Compressed-air elevator for fluids.



'PATENTED MAY 12, 1903 J. W. SLOAN.

COMPRESSED AIR ELEVATOR FOR FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1903.

no MODE-L.

NITED STATES T'atented lvlay 1Q, 1905;.

PATENT FFICE.

JAMES W. SLOAN, OF (JORSIGANA, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOSEPH S. CULLINAN HORACE GQJOHNSTON, OF OORSIOANA,

TEXAS.

COMPRESSED-AIR ELEVATOR FOR FLUIDS.

IPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,180, dated May 12, 1903. Application filed January '1', 1903 SerialNo. 138,153. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Ee it known that I, J AMES W. SLOAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oorsie cana, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas,haveinvented new and usefullmprovementsin Com pressed-Air Elevators for Fluids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a compressed-air elevator for fluids; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device of this character which can be employed with advantage for positively forcing a fluid from a wellwhich has pressure enough.

for example, oil, gas, water, and the like-and it will hereinafter be described simply to indicate its nature in connection with an oilwell.

I use the term compressed air in the title l of the invention as a convenient one, as I have found compressed air a satisfactory agent for elevating fluid from a well. It is to be understood that I might employ other means with equal facility for securing the same results-f or example,l could use steamand it will therefore be apparent that I do not wish to limit the invention in this respect.

The invention in one simple embodiment I is illustrated in longitudinal sectional elevation in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

Referring to said drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the casing of the well, which is introduced into an excavation in the earth with its bottom resting upon the oil-bearing strata, the'top of the casing extending above such excavation and being furnished with an airtight head 2, adapted to receive one or more pipes 3, the delivery ends of which, it will be seen, open into the upper end of the casing 1.

Thepipes 3 are adapted to be connected with a suitable air-blast apparatus (not shown) and serve to direct the compressed air down the casing for the purpose of discharging the oil through a tube hereinafter more particularly described.

Theenlarged end of a perforated tube 4 .flts in the lower end of the casing l and depends therefrom into a chamber located in the bottom-of the excavation or well proper, the perforated portion of the tube serving to strain the oil prior to its entrance into the casing'by way of said tube. 1 The numeral 5 denotes a tube inclosed by and extending longitudinally of the casing 1. The upper end of said tube extends through the air-tight head 2, while the lower end thereof is outwardly flared or enlarged,as at '6, the enlarged portion having a vertical flange 7, the periphery of which is in contact 'withjth'e inner surface of the casing. I. Said tubeconstitutes a conduit for carrying 0d the oil from the well, as will hereinafter appear. It will be understood that the lower end of the tube 5 is in contact with the inner surface or wall of the casing 1, while the upper portion of said tube is separated from such surface, thereby forming an internal chamber.

Between the lower end of the tube 5 and the upper end of the tube 4 isa packing 8 of some suitable material, rubber being a good medium for this purpose, which snugly fits the well-casing.

The tube 5 consists of superposed imperforate and perforated portions, the perforations being denoted by 9 and serving to permit the passage of air from the casing for the purpose of elevating the oil through the tube. Said tube is represented as consisting'of a plurality of sections united by suitable couplings, each denoted by 10, the upper of which latter-receives the casing 11 of the valve 12, said valvecasing resting upon the annular internal shoulder 13 of said upper coupling. The up per portion of the valve-casing is shown as consisting of a cage of well-known form to thereby limit the elevation of the valve, which is represented as being of the ball kind and is usually made of metal, although this, of course, is not essential.

The upper or cage portion of the valve-casing 11 fits within the lower end of a nozzle 14, extending longitudinally of the casing 1 and tube 5, it being seen, however, that the upper end of said nozzle extends short of the casing and tube, respectively.

As previously stated, my device is primarily intended for use in connection with wells the liquids in which have pressure enough to rise a certain distance in the well, but not enough to ascend to the earths surface, the blast of compressed air directed into the casing being intended for this purpose.

Oil will rise in the casingl and its pressure will elevate or open the valve 12, so that such oil can flow into and fill the nozzle and flow over the top of the same into the space between said nozzle and the tube 5 and pass through the perforations 9 into the space between the tube 5 and easing 1, which constitutes an oil-receiving chamber.

It will be assumed that compressed air has been admitted into the pipes 3, whereby such air will pass into the casing and down the same through the perforations 9, so as to elevate the oil above the perforations between the tube 5 and the nozzle 14, the ascending oil traversing the tube 5 and being directed thereby to some suitable point. On the initial entrance of the air its force of course is applied to the'column of oil standing in the nozzle 14:, whereby the valve 12 will be instantly closed, so that such air cannot reach the bottom of the well.

To prevent the passage of air to the bottom of the well by the joint between the lower end of the tube 5 and the casing l, the packing 8 is provided. As no air can reach the bottom of the well, the output of such well will be materially increased, for in case such a result did occur the pressure of the air would be suificient to drive the ascending oil back into the sand or earth which bears the same.

The improved organization can be operated with less air than certain existing arrangements, for the reason that the valve 12 prevents the down fiowingair to pass by the same, as in case it did not only would such air be wasted, but, as just stated, would drive the oil back into the earth.

The nozzle 14E performs an important function in that it receives and retains a column of oil. If the air-b1ast were applied directly to the valve, its effect might not be sufficient to overcome the pressure of the ascending column of oil below the valve, so that, therefore, I utilize the column of oil in the nozzle to aid in maintaining the valve positively closed upon the introduction of the compressed air. In other words, the valve is held closed by the superimposed column of oil in the nozzle and the compressed air acting against the same, so that the desired result is positively secured. The invention is not limited to the exact I construction and relation of parts hereinbe- 1 fore set forth, for various changes may be adopted within the scope of my claims.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is- 1. In a compressed-air elevator for fluids, a casing, a tube in said casing, the lower end of the tube being peripherally in contact with the inner surface of the casing, and the upper portion of the tube being separated from said casing, and said tube having superposed iinperforate and perforated portions, and a valve in said tube for controlling the flow of fluid from said tube into the space between the tube and the casing.

2. In a compressed-air elevator for fluids, a casing, a tube in said casing, the lower end of the tube being peripherally in contact with the inner surface of the casing, and the upper portion of the tube being separated from said casing, and said tube having superposed imperforate and perforated portions, a valve in said tube for controlling the flow of fluid from said tube into the space between the tube and the casing, and an oil-containing nozzle the lower end of which incloses the valve-casing, said nozzle being separated from said tube and the upper end thereof being below the corresponding ends of the tube and easing respectively.

In a compressed-air elevator for fluids, a casing, a tube in said casing, the lower end of the tube being peripherally in contact with the inner surface of, the casing, and the upper portion of the tube being separated from said casing, and said tube having superposed imperforate and perforated portions, a valve in said tube for controlling the flow of fluid from said tube into the space between the tube and the casing, an air-tight head connected with the upper ends of the casing and tube respectively, and an air-supply pipe connected with the head and communicating with the casing.

4:. In a compressed-air elevator for fluids, a casing, a tube in said casing, the lower end of the tube being peripherally in contact with the inner surface of the casing, and the upper portion of the tube being separated from said casing and said tube having superposed imperforate and perforated portions, a valve in said tube for controlling the flow of fluid from said tube into the space between the tube and the casing and located below the perforated portion of said tube, and an imperforate oil-containing nozzle the lower end of which incloses the valve-casing, said nozzle being separated from said tube and the upperend thereof being below the corresponding ends of the tube and casing, respectively.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- JAMES W. SLOAN. Witnesses:

G. L. J ESTER, LEWIS CARPENTER.

ICC

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